Section 25180.7 Of Article 8. Enforcement From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 20. >> Chapter 6.5. >> Article 8.
25180.7
. (a) Within the meaning of this section, a "designated
government employee" is any person defined as a "designated employee"
by Government Code Section 82019, as amended.
(b) Any designated government employee who obtains information in
the course of his or her official duties revealing the illegal
discharge or threatened illegal discharge of a hazardous waste within
the geographical area of his or her jurisdiction and who knows that
the discharge or threatened discharge is likely to cause substantial
injury to the public health or safety must, within 72 hours, disclose
that information to the local Board of Supervisors and to the local
health officer. No disclosure of information is required under this
subdivision when otherwise prohibited by law, or when law enforcement
personnel have determined that this disclosure would adversely
affect an ongoing criminal investigation, or when the information is
already general public knowledge within the locality affected by the
discharge or threatened discharge.
(c) Any designated government employee who knowingly and
intentionally fails to disclose information required to be disclosed
under subdivision (b) shall, upon conviction, be punished by
imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year or by
imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal
Code. The court may also impose upon the person a fine of not less
than five thousand dollars ($5000) or more than twenty-five thousand
dollars ($25,000). The felony conviction for violation of this
section shall require forfeiture of government employment within
thirty days of conviction.
(d) Any local health officer who receives information pursuant to
subdivision (b) shall take appropriate action to notify local news
media and shall make that information available to the public without
delay.